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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Another little thumbnail to keep me going while I do bigger projects. I like the color, but the composition... meh. Anytime I draw something on a wacom I give up too early.

~ My Reading List ~

Finished:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

A fantasy novel about a young girl and prince with very special talents. The writing was fair, but the author lost me when the female character decided that simply having relations with her prince and never marrying him was ok and never changed her mind. Not that I ever expect protagonists to be perfect or to emulate my own faith or morality, but I usually want to rally for my princess's hopes and needs. However, despite this there was an amazing set of chapters where Kasta, the main character, keeps a little girl alive while taking her across a mountain passage. That was thrilling and courageous and lovely.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

I listened to this retelling of a fairytale on audible.com. It was a fantastic experience. I've read several other similar stories but I enjoyed this one abundantly. It needed a few more jokes, but other than that I liked it.

In the middle of:

Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila

This book was written to help Teresa's fellow sisters persevere in prayer and in the spiritual life. She gives very vivid descriptions of a person's journey into the depths of the soul in search of the Beloved. She uses the visual of aid of a castle and its many rooms to describe a person's progress, trials and joys. It is very good and not only because there is a castle involved.

Catholic Christianity by Peter Kreeft

I started this book ages ago. Kreeft helps explain the basic premises of the Catholic faith in a logical and lively manner. This is the kind of book where you can read a chapter here and there depending on your interest but I find that reading it all the way through is the most enriching. Kreeft has a particular talent in breaking down seemingly difficult ideas in to clear concepts.

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

A cute little fairytale book, obviously geared to a slightly younger audience that Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. The language is a little simpler and a bit too 'cool' for my taste, but again I have soft spot for these kinds of books and I've been carrying it with me everywhere.

Friday, November 12, 2010

The other day during a Non-Harassment Seminar at work I was doodling (and listening at the same time!) and I began to think, wow, sisters and nuns with habits wear the same thing their entire lives! I asked myself if I could ever manage to do such a thing. Blue is my favorite color, I could probably stand to wear blue everyday for a very long time, I thought. So I began to sketch out a habit I could potentially see myself wearing forever until the day I died. The sketch that came out is the one on the left. Of course, I'd need a work day outfit with fewer layers so I fashioned another one right after in brighter colors. I'd be out in the sun, I imagined, so yellow would be perfect, and you know patterns are so cheerful I'll add some on the hem, as long as they hold some meaning to the Christian life I'm sure it would be ok.

Almost immediately, I came out of my silly daydream and laughed. I wanted to be a pretty, well-dressed nun! I have this immediate desire to want to beautify everything, which is not a bad thing, but habits are modest and practical for a reason. My little daydream was pure fantasy although it wasn't just composed of me having an awesome habit. Some of my core desires would have to change if I ever was called to the religious life, which I've always been ok with. I don't feel guilty that my desires haven't changed. These silly little day dreams are however a testament at how beautifully some of these sisters and brothers I've met live out their lives. Their testimonies do tempt me in a small ways to force my desires to change so I can live as they do, but I know it's not necessary because the Lord will call me to my own path and that path will be laid out especially for me because He knows best how to lead me on the road of sanctification.

More reasons I'd make a terrible nun:

a) Often, unfortunately, I think, ‘Ok, after I pray and meditate the Rosary, I can finish reading the end of my fantasy novel!!... Crap, I'm more excited about this silly novel than I am about spending some time with the Lord, man I suck...'b) Bad circulation... too much kneeling makes me cry. Often I have to spend my prayer time with my legs propped up on some pillows so I'm not distracted by my legs complaining.c) To my personal disdain, I'm more romantic than most, hence the love of fairytale based novels. I'm sure I'd forget myself if I saw a cute boy. I'd check to see if my hair looked ok and then I'd remember that I'm wearing a veil and that I'm a nun and that no you can't go to the ball with him.d) I'd get kicked out like Maria Von Trapp for sneaking an afternoon in the mountains. Once in a while I get this spontaneous desire to disappear and go on an adventure.